David Dunlop, 13 January 2021.
The USN will deploy its first High Energy Laser with Integrated Optical-dazzler and Surveillance (HELIOS) integrated on an operational Flight IIA Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer (DDG) (possibly USS Preble (DDG-88)) this year (2021) for shipboard testing integrated in the Aegis Weapons system. This is a Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) system from Lockheed Martin that has been successfully tested against missiles, drones and small craft over the last few years. Also being developed this year is a Solid-State Laser – Technology Maturation (SSL-TM), Ruggedized High Energy Laser (RHEL), and the Optical Dazzling Interdictor, Navy (ODIN) program. Would any of these systems be supportable by the CSC Frigate program integrated into the CMS 330 system architecture? The HELIOS system could be an excellent replacement for the CIWS system to augment both ESSM (Extended Range Sea Sparrow Missile) and CAADS (Sea Septor). Could any of these DEW systems be a future fit for the CSC Frigate (fitted for but not with port/stb’d midships where Sea Ram may have been fitted)? At this point, we do not know but would appear to be an excellent fit for integration into the Type 26 CSC Frigate.
https://defpost.com/lockheed-martin-delivers-helios-laser-weapon-system-to-u-s-navy/
5 thoughts on “High Energy Lasers”
David,
Yes, this is another interesting development. However, the U.S. Navy is always developing new offensive and defensive weapons systems. Take a look at this recent Congressional Research Service Report, “Navy Lasers, Railgun, and Gun-Launched Guided Projectile: Background and Issues for Congress”, R44175 (Updated 12 January 2021). [https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R44175/68] I am sure our naval planners would like all of these systems — and more — for the Canadian Surface Combatant. The real problem, as many have noted, is that I doubt whether Ottawa can afford the basic ship let alone all of the advanced capabilities that could be put into it.
Hi Dan. You say that many have noted (including you) that Ottawa cannot afford even the basic LM Type 26 Frigate let alone a DEW capability in the future. I would appreciate some substantiation by you for this statement. If we are acquiring advanced weapons systems for the CSC Frigates (as per below), a DEW system does not seem to be that far off. The CSC Frigate was also going to acquire an updated CIWS or Sea Ram system however those systems were removed from the shopping list when CAADS (Sea Ceptor) was chosen instead. A DEW system would certainly be able to be fitted port/stb’d midships to complement CAADS for close-in small boat/drone threats. Cheers!
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2020/11/royal-canadian-navy-unveils-new-details-on-csc-frigates/
Greetings David!
I am basing my comments on the growing sense among the folks I talk to on a regular basis that the escalating costs of the CSC project are going to be focus of intense debate in Ottawa this year, especially after the Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO) reports in February. You have acknowledged this point about costs, as have others in this Forum. One recent media account of this sentiment can be found in, Murray Brewster, “Battle of the budget: DND gears up to defend cost of new warships in the new year”, CBC News (23 December 2020). [https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/navy-frigates-cost-1.5851912]
Yes, I, too, have seen the impressive Navy Infographic and the photos of a scale model of the LMC CSC bristling with sensors and weapon systems. However, the latest PBO estimates of CSC costs were based on a much earlier design for the original Type-26 frigate; the current design appears to be a much different beast. Moreover, we have had no official word about where matters stand in the requirements reconciliation process, and in the intervening months Ottawa is facing huge spending deficits arising from the pandemic crisis.
In the best of all possible worlds, I agree that the Navy deserves to have best possible CSC that money can buy. Regrettably, that world does not exist, nor is it likely to for some considerable period of time, measured in years not months. Therefore, I conclude that finding the money for a fully equipped CSC is going to be more than a hard sell, it could be impossible.
Hi Dan. Yes, the CSC Type 26 Frigate costs debate will exponentially intensify next month when the PBO releases it’s report and may even trigger an early election which is something Canada really does not need right now. I have also read Murray Brewster’s article with great interest. I too have a growing “sense” of concern over the mounting CSC Frigate costs, however, when I look at the COVID-19 response from the government with “shock-and-awe”, the $70B costs (so far) for the CSC Type 26 Frigate program does not seem that far out of line when compared. The only difference from earlier designs for the CSC Frigate are the deletion of the two CIWS/Sea RAM systems and the addition of the CAADS Sea Ceptor system astern of the funnel. Other than that, nothing has really changed with the CSC Frigate and not really much of a “different beast” as you say. We should know more shortly after the PBO report comes out on the requirements and reconciliation process. It is not the RCN that deserves the best possible CSC Frigate that “money can buy” as you say, but the Canadian people who deserve the best possible Frigate to replace the Halifax class to defend our Country well into the 21st century. Nothing less will do!
Hello,
Interesting that the US is realizing that they need to “decouple new technology development from building ships” and go back to designing and building them with proven systems, allowing for future upgrades when new technology is tested and ready:
https://www.defensenews.com/digital-show-dailies/surface-navy-association/2021/01/11/heres-the-us-navys-plan-to-stop-its-string-of-shipbuilding-failures/